Posted by Brian Rapoza on April 14, 2003 at 19:41:37:
Since TAS was yet to create a Fish Board, this is my only venue to report the results of
Tropical Audubon's snorkeling trip on Saturday to Shark Reef in Biscayne National Park.
Three fishwatchers joined Jeff Weber and myself on a gorgeous day to be on or in the
water. Seas were calm, the water temperature was 74 degrees (necessitating the use
of wetsuits), and visibility was excellent. Thirty-eight species were identified:
French Angelfish
Rock Beauty
Great Barracuda
Fairy Basslet
Smooth Trunkfish
Banded Butterflyfish
Foureye Butterflyfish
Blue Chromis
Bicolor Damselfish
Seargent Major
Yellowtail Damselfish
Scrawled Filefish
Spotted Goatfish
Bluestriped Grunt
French Grunt
Porkfish
Sailor's Choice
Butter Hamlet
Spanish Hogfish
Blue Runner
Blue Parrotfish
Midnight Parrotfish
Princess Parrotfish
Queen Parrotfish
Redband Parrotfish
Stoplight Parrotfish
Porcupinefish
Gray Snapper
Yellowtail Snapper
Reef Squirrelfish
Blue Tang
Doctorfish
Ocean Surgeonfish
Bluehead Wrasse
Rainbow Wrasse
Yellowhead Wrasse
Bermuda Chub
Trumpetfish
Many other species went unidentified. If only there were a good pair of really waterproof
binoculars for this sort of thing.
To legitimize this trip report on the bird board, we did see three species of birds while we were
out there, including Least Tern. We were hoping to catch a glimpse of the Red-legged
Honeycreeper seen on Boca Chita Key, but having no binoculars on hand, we couldn't even
see Boca Chita Key.
I've been told that several people had planned to join us on this trip, but backed out at the
last minute upon hearing the water temperature. We will try to accomodate you wimps
next year by scheduling this trip when it's a little warmer. Maybe mid-May.